Rotary elastic drum blender



March 3, 1953 K. w. LENTz 2,630,301

ROTARY ELASTIC DRUM BLENDER Filed Nov. 16, 1950 JNVENTOR. Kendrick W. Lenfz ATTOR NEY 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

-Patented Mar. 3, i953 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE 2,630,301 ROTARY ELASTIC DRUM BLENDER Kendrick W. Leutz, aine, e010. Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,039

5 Claims.

My invention relates to a rotary blender parof an aggregate with liquids in a continuous operation.

Various types of rotary -blenders are in operation today and in general consist of a rotating cylinder in which dry and moistdivided solids are mixed with a liquid and discharged in the form of apulp. In many instances these pulps are not free-flowing; and as a result, require the incorporation of some mechanism, vsuch as a scraper blade, to free the moist adherent mass from the walls of the mixing vessel and cause it to iiow axially towards the discharge end. Scrapers are in many instances undesirable, not only from the standpoint of maintenance, but also because of their frequent inability to properly clean the walls of the vessel and move the materials towards the discharge.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a rotary blender or mixer constructed in such manner as to continuously and automatically free the adherent moist masses of solids rfrom the walls ofthe mixing vessel and to disvessel Other important objects o1' my invention includethe provision of apparatus of the type described which can be constructedat relatively low cost, requires minimum maintenance, which provides for the the simple and rapid replacement of the major component parts, and which may be utilized in processing a Wide variety of materials.

Other important objects relating to the various novel combinations and component parts are disclosed in the following description and illustrated in the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a partially sectioned elevation of a preferred form of my device;

Fig, 2 is a cross section takenl along the lines Fig. 3 is a partial cross section through one lof the end rings illustrating the method by which the body is attached. Y

One of the principal uses of my apparatus is the blending of one or more types of ground ore or aggregate with water or -similar liquids to produce a uniform pulp.v However, it is to be understood that the same apparatus may without major modiiication also be utilized in blending other materials, particularly those of a sticky nature, such as for example, asphaltic concretes or mixtures Qtaegreaates. saches sand and gravel 2 with plastic materials such as natural or synthetic plastics, glues, resins, and the like.

In brief, my device is an elongated cylindrical body formed of a material capable of elastic deformation and supported at opposite ends by hollow rigid rings interconnected by bow-shaped struts which not only translate the torsional force between the ends, but which also limit the maximum elastic deformation of the body. Thus, as the body is rotated and the divided solids and liquids fed to my blender, the central portion of the elastic body will be distorted outwardly away from its normal position with respect to the axis of rotation by the mass of contained material. As each portion of the body passes from a lower to an upper position, its elastic strength causes it to assume a diierent position, thus continuously flexing and distorting the walls of the mixing Vessel to such an extent that the adherent materials are freed from the walls and returned to the rolling mass carried in the lower portion of the body.

For simplicity of description, the material from which the cylindrical rotating body member of my blending apparatus is formed will be referred to in the following description and in the claims as rubber. It will be understood, however, that the word. rubber as employed herein encompasses both the natural and synthetic rubber compounds as well as the various synthetic plastics having rubber-like qualities, such as a high order of elasticity and elastic strength, a smooth impervious surface, resistance to the passage of moisture, and resistance t0 abrasive action. The material actually selected for use in each instance will, of course, be governed by the nature of the service ior which the blender is intended, consideration being given in the selection to the chemical resistance of the material selected with respect to the liquids and solids to be mixed.

A preferred form of my invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 and includes an elongated hollow cylindrical body Il) of rubber. The extremities of the body lo are secured to an inlet end ring H and discharge end ring l2, each being substantially similar and provided with end flanges l 3 and I4, respectively, to which aconventional inlet cone i6 and outlet cone l? are secured. The rings H and `t2 are fitted over the extremities of the body it) and are secured in position by a series of rigid clamp strips It formed of curved strip material and corrugated as at I9 on their inner surface. Bolts 2l extend through the clamp strips it, the body it, and through rings I l and l2, thereby securing the body Hl in position.' Preferably eight bolts are employed on each end ring, thereby perthus creating a tumbling action.

mitting rapid replacement of the body I when necessary without dismounting the balance of the structure. The rings I I and I2 are interconnected by four rigid struts 2-2 each fastened at their extremities to the end rings II and I2, as by bolts 2.5 extending through flanges and bowed outwardly away from the body I0 near their midpoint. These struts 22 serve to transmit torsional force applied to one of the rings II to the other of the rings I2, thereby relieving the body In of torsion. They also serve to limit maximum deflection of the body I0 from its normal position under the influence of a mass of material. The support ring 23 extends around the struts 22 near one of the rings, as for example the ring t2 and is rotatably supported by a flanged idler wheel 24 rotatably mounted in a suitable support 26. A large circular gear 21 extends around the struts 22 near the opposite end and engages a driving gear 2B secured to a shaft 29, the latter being coupled to a suitable motor 3| and supported in pillow blocks 3.2 mounted on a suitable support 33. The ring 23 and gear 21 are secured to the struts 22 by suitable flanges 30 and bolts 35. The axis of the body I0 may be horizontal or inclined slightly towards the discharge cone I1.

In operation, the solids in the form of aggregates are vfeci to the inlet cone I6, together with a predetermined quantity of liquid, such as water. The motor 3| is energized, thereby driving the body I0 and causing the solids to move axially towards the discharge cone I'I'. As the mass of partially blended liquid and solids approaches the central portion of the body I0, the lower portion thereof will be deflected outwardly away from the axis, thus stressing the body and causing an elastic movement of the inner surface. As this particular point on the body progresses upwardly towards the uppermost position, a majority of the solids will fall therefrom towards the bottom, A certain quantity of the material, however, normally will adhere to the inner surface. As the body, under the influence of elastic force, resumes its normal position, the inner skin is again flexed and caused to move. This movement loosens the adherent material 'causing it to fall towards the bottom of the body Il), where it is blended with the main body of material.

vDischarge of the blended solids can be controlled either by conti'ol of the rate at which materials are fed to my device or by a suitable gate of conventional design on the discharge cone.

Although rubber is highly resistant to abrasion, it is not indestructible and the body Ill will therefore eventually require replacement. When this occurs, the body I0 is easily replaced simply by withdrawing the body section after removal of bolts 2I and clamp strips I8 and inserting a replacement. If the thickness of the wall of the body IS is not great, this operation can be performed even without the removal of one of the struts 22. If, on the other hand, removal of one of the struts 22is necessary, the bolts extending through the flanges 25 may be removed, together with ring 213 and bolts 35. Assembly is accomplished by reversal of these operations.

It will, of course, be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in many of the details hereinbefore described without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention. I do not therefore limit myself to these claims.

" ing the rings nfor transmitting torsion therebetween, each of said struts being bowed outwarl [1y intermediate the rings and spaced outwardly from the rubber cylinder, and means for driving said rings, the wall thickness of the cylinder being selected for elastic distortion outwardly between the end rings under the influence of a mass of material being blended therein, said struts being disposed for limiting said elastic distortion.

2. Rotary blending apparatus, comprising an elongated cylindrical body having a feed inlet at one end and a discharge outlet at its opposite end, a pair of annular members supporting the cylindrical body at its respective ends in encompassing relation thereto, a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts interconnecting the annular members and spaced from the portion of the cylindrical body intermediate its ends, so as to permit free suspension of said intermediate portion, said cylindrical body being formed of a material capableof elastic deformation and the arrangement of struts limiting the distortion of said body, means supporting the annular members for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for rotating said body through the intermediary of one of said annular members, whereby the intermediate portion is subjected to a iiexing distortion in accordance with the shifting of the mass of material fed into the body through said inlet.

3. Rotary blending apparatus, comprising an elongated cylindrical body having a feed inlet at one end and a discharge outlet at its opposite end, a pair of annular members supporting the cylindrical body at its respective ends in encompassing relation thereto, a plurality of circumferentially spaced struts interconnecting the annular members and spaced from the portion of the cylindrical body intermediate its ends so as to permit free suspension of said intermediate portion, said cylindrical body being formed of rubber capable of elastic deformation and the arrangement of struts limiting the distortion of said body, means supporting the annular members for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for rotating said body through the intermediary of one of said annular members, whereby the intermediate portion is subjected to a flexing distortion in accordance with the shifting of the mass of material fed into the body through said inlet.

4. Rotary'blendi'ng apparatus, comprising an elongated cylindrical body having a feed inlet at one end and a discharge outlet at its opposite end, a pair of annular members supporting the cylindrical body at its respective ends in encompassing relation thereto, a plurality of circumferentially spaced vstruts interconnecting the annular members and outwardly bowed from the portion of the cylindrical body intermediate its ends so as to permit free suspension of said intermediate portion, said cylindrical body being formed of a material capable of elastic deformation and the arrangement of struts limiting the distortion of said body, means supporting the annular members for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for rotating said body through the intermediary of one of said annular members, whereby the intermediate portion is subjected to a flexing distortion in accordance with the shifting of the mass of material fed into the body through said inlet.

5. Rotary blending apparatus, comprising an elongated cylindrical body having a feed inlet at one end and a discharge outlet at its opposite end, a pair of annular members supporting the cylindrical body at its respective ends in encompassing relation thereto, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, substantially rigid struts interconnecting the annular members and spaced from the portion of the cylindrical body intermediate its ends so as to permit free suspension 20 2,293,015

of said intermediate portion, said cylindrical body REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lincoln Oct. 6, 1942 2,500,861 Phillips Mar. 14, 1950 

